Towel cabinet



Jan. 8, 1924a v 1,479,864

\ A. H. MARTIN TOWEL CABINET Filed Aug. 25. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8, 1924. 1,479,864

A. H. MARTIN TOWEL CABINET Filed Aug. 25, 1922 -2 She etS -She et 2 Patented Jan. 8, 1924.

ALFRED H. MARTIN, OF BUFFALO, NEW Y 2' 1%? TOWEL CABINET.

Application filed August 23, 1922. Serial No. 583,908.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Towel Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates-to a towel cabinet which is more particularly adapted for use in public wash-rooms and the like.

One of its objects is to so construct the cabinet that only predetermined lengths of toweling may be drawn therefrom by the user at certain time intervals, to avoid waste in the use of the same.

Other objects of the invention are to provide simple and reliable means for automatically locking the towel feeding mechanism for a fixed period after a given length of toweling has been withdrawn, and for automatically releasing said mechanism after the time interval has elapsed, to enable another length of toweling to be drawn out for use.

Still further objects are to improve the construction of the cabinet in various other details as will be hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front View of a towel cabinet embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section on line 22, Fig. 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 83, Fig. 2. Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section on line H, Fig. 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 55, Fig. 1. Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.. Figures 7 and 8 are similar views but showing the parts in a different position. Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section on line 99, Fig. 5. Figure 10 is a transverse vertical section of a cabinet showing a modified form of the improvement. Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section of the modification shown in Fig. 10.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The cabinet is preferably in the form of an upright casing 10 suitably suspended or swinging lid or cover 11 andv in its front wall with a horizontally-swinging door 12 supported and provided at its top with a.

hinged at 13. As shown in Fig. 2, the up er portion 14 of the front wall is offset orwardly from its lower portion 15, and the door 13 is in the plane of said upper portion, whereby a towel-inlet space or opening 16 is formed between the door and the opposing edge of said lower wall portion.

Removably mounted in the lower front ortion of the casing 10- is a horizontallyisposed towel supply roll 17 on which the clean or laundered toweling 18 is wound at the laundry. The journals 19 of the roll are supported at the bottom of upright guideways 20 formed in vertical bars 21 suitably fastened to the side walls of said casing. To facilitate the insertion and removal of the supply roll, each of the bars'21 is provided with a lateral, rearwardly-inclined branchway or groove 22 leading from the front edge of said bar to a point near the lower end of the respective guideway, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Located immediately above the towel supply roll 17 are two superposed friction rolls 23, 2 1 which are arranged in fixed spaced relation and provided at their ends with v journals 25 su ported in bearing plates 26, said journals'being of suflicient length to enter the guideways 20 in the side bars 21, as shown in Fig. 3. A. take-up roll 27 for the soiled toweling is disposed above and rests on the upper friction roll 24: and is provided with journals 28 arranged in the guideways 20. By arranging the different rolls in this manner, the same are free to move vertically in their guideways during the winding and unwinding of the toweling on and ofi the take-up roll and the supply roll, to compensate for the changing diameters of these rolls. 4

In traveling from the supply roll to the take-up roll, the toweling passes forwardly and rearwardly around the lower friction roll 23, then upwardly around the underside of a horizontal guide roll 29 ahd over the .upper side of a measuring roll 30, located above the latter, then forwardly around the underside of a guide roll 31 located in front of the measuring roll, thence forwardly through an outlet opening 32 in the upper front portion 14 of the cabinet and around the upper side of a guide roll 33 mounted in front of said opening, and finally downwardly and thence upwardly through the towel inlet 16 and around a air of rolls 34, 35," to the take-up rol .The ower ide tightening roll 34 is carried by the door 13 its opposite end, while the guide roll 31 is mounted in brackets 38 carriedby the lid 11.

In order to wind up the soiled toweling on the take-up roll simultaneously with the unwinding of the clean toweling from the supply roll by a downward pull on the exposed portion 40 of the toweling, a driving connection is employed between them. To

this end, the friction rolls 23, 24 are provided with intermeshing gears 41, so that the motion of the supply roll is transmitted to the lower friction roll 23 which transmits its motion to the upper friction roll 24,

which latter in turn rotates the take-up roll 27. The weight of the take-up roll and the friction rolls and the frictional engagement of the toweling with the latter insure the transmission of motion from the supply roll to said take-up roll, so that the same length of toweling drawn from the supply roll is wound on the take-up roll. As the towel supply roll decreases in diameter and the take-up roll correspondingly increases in diameter, the friction rolls 23, 24 descend by gravity as a unit with their bearing and tie plates 26, while the take-up roll correspondingly rises. These friction rolls may be coated with sand-or covered with rubber, or otherwise rendered rough or adhesive.

In order to eliminate any undue waste of the toweling by users and prevent continuous and unrestrained withdrawal of the same from the cabinet, means are provided whereby only certain fixed lengths suitable for an individual user, can be drawn out at any one time. For this purpose, means are provided for locking the measuring roll 30 after a given length of toweling has been pulled from the cabinet, and for again releasing the measuring roll after a reasonable period of time has elapsed, say for example, thirty or forty seconds, which is sufiicient time for the average user to dry his face and hands after washing. This locking and releasing mechanism is automatic in operation, and, as

shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, is preferably constructed as follows:

42 indicates a stop pin projecting from the periphery of the measuring roll and arranged to abut against the rear end of a vertically-swinging detent or stop lever 43 pivoted at 44 to the bar 37 or other adjacent part of the cabinet. lln its operative or lowcred position shown in Fig. 7, said detent rests onfthe upper side of the measuring roll. The detent is adapted to be automatically released after the locking period has elapsed by a finger or lateral extension 45 of a releasing arm 46, which finger is arranged to engage the underside of said detent to liftit clear of said stop pin. This releasing arm is secured to the driving shaft 47 of a suitable clock mechanismor equivalent timing device 48 actuated by a spring 49. This arm also serves as a winding member for the clock Work and co-operates with a wind-up arm or member 50 fixed to and projecting radially from the adjacent portion of the measuring-roll shaft 36. The lifting finger 45 of the releasing arm projects into the path of movement of the wind-up arm, so that when the measuring roll is turned forwardly by the withdrawal of the toweling, the windup arm engages said finger and compels the releasing arm to turn therewith to wind up the clock mechanism. .Thedriving shaft of the latter is parallel with the measuring-roll shaft, but is offset or located eccentrically thereto, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, and the comparativelengths of the wind-up and releasing arms are such that before the measuring roll makes a complete revolution, the finger 45 of the releasing arm becomes disengaged from the wind-up arm, by reason of the eccentricity of the axes of these arms. The releasing arm 46 and windup arm 50 constitute coupling members for temporarily connecting the measuring roll with the timing mechanism. Upon being thus disengaged, the releasing arm 46 is free to revolve slowly in the reverse direction under the impulse of the clock spring 49, while the wind-up arm continues to rotate forwardly with the measuring roll until the latter is arrested by the engagement of its stop pin 42 with the destrikes a stop or pin 51 carried by the sup porting bar 37 or other suitable fixed part, arresting said arm at a point in front of the wind-up arnr 50 ready to be again actuated by it upon the next pull on the toweling.

The reverse movement of the releasing arm just described, is comparatively slow, inasmuch as the clockwork is retarded by the customary fan 52 thereof.

The time consumed by the releasing arm in returning to its original position after its ne'zaeea being released from the wind-up arm deter mines the duration of the locking period of the measuring roll, and it will be understood that this period may be suitably regulated, for example, by varying the length of the releasing arm relatively to that of the wind-up arm.

The length of toweling which is withdrawn from the cabinet at a time is substantially equal to the circumference of the measuring roll. 5

By arranging the friction rolls 23, 24 between the towel supply roll 17 and the take-up roll 27, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the clean toweling is at all times kept free from contact with the soiled toweling.

The advantage of passing the toweling upwardly through the space 16 between the door 13 and the lower portion 15 of the front wall is that the lower edge of the door forms a comparatively sharp corner which would resist any attempt to withdraw the soiled toweling from the take-up roll.

Briefly stated, the operation of the device is as follows:

Assume the measuring roll to be in the unlocked position shown in Figs, 3, 4 and 6. The user grasps the exposed portion 40 of the toweling and pulls the same downwardly to withdraw a clean length from the cabinet.

By this movement, the measuring roll 30 is turned forwardly and its wind-up arm 50 is temporarily coupled with the releasing.

arm 46' of the clock-mechanism to wind up the latter. As previously described, said releasing arm becomes disconnected from the wind-up arm before the measuring roll makes a complete revolution and is free to turn slowly in the reverse direction under the impulse of the clock spring 49, said measuring roll continuing to rotate until arrested and locked against further movement by the engagement of its stop pin 42 with the detent 43. This roll remains locked until the releasing arm 46, in its return movement, encounters the detent and lifts it clear of the stop pin, thereby unlocking the measuring roll and permitting another length of toweling to be withdrawn from the cabinet.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 10 and 11, one of the friction rolls is utilized as a measuring roll instead of employing a separate roll for this purpose, as shown in the first described construction. 53 indicates the removable towel supply roll which is supported in the lower end of the cabinet and 54 the take-up roll which is removably supported in the upper end of the cabinet for receiving the soiled toweling. Interposed between these rolls are two rolls 55, 56 corresponding to the friction rolls 23, 24 of .the first-described construction, the roll 55 also serving as a measuring roll. Said 'rolls 55, 56 are ar- &

ranged in fixed spaced relation and provided with intermeshing gears 57 the take-up roll 54 being adapted to rest on the upper roll 56 and move vertically relatively thereto as the soiled toweling is wound thereon. From the supply roll, the toweling passes upwardly around the rear side of the measuring roll 55, then forwardly and downwardly over a guide roll 58, through an opening 59 in the bottom of the cabinet, thence upwardly through a second opening 60 in said cabinetbottom and around a pair of guide rolls 61, 62 to the take-up roll. As the exposed portion 63 of the toweling is pulled downwardly, a clean length is drawn from the supply roll and the motion of the roll 55 is transmitted to the superposed roll 56, which in turn transmits motion to the take-up roll in the proper direction so that the same amount of toweling is wound on the latter as is payed oil of the supply roll. y

In this case, the means for locking the measuring roll 55 for a certain period of time to prevent the continuous withdrawal of the toweling and for again releasing the same after the lapse of said period are identical with those previously described in connection with the measuring roll 30.

This improved cabinet, while aflording the advantages hereinbefore described, comprises comparatively few parts which are so constructed and organized that they are not liable to get out of order.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a towel cabinet, stop-means for automatically arresting the toweling after the withdrawal of a predetermined length thereof, and means for automatically releasing said stop'means after a given lapse of time, whereby the immediate withdrawal of succeeding lengths of toweling is prevented.

2. In a towel cabinet, a stop-device for automatically arresting the toweling afterthe withdrawal ofa predetermined length thereof, and means beyond the control-- of the user for automatically releasing said stop-device after the expiration of a certain time-interval. a

3. In a towel cabinet, stop means for by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring device after the withdrawal of a predetermined length'ol toweling, a timing device, means controlled by the measuring device for setting said timing device, and means actuated by said timing device for releasing said arresting means after the expiration of a predetermined period of time. y

6. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring device actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring device after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, a timing device, means for coupling said measuring device with said timing device during the withdrawal ofa length of toweling, and means controlled by said timing device for releasing said arresting means.

- 7. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, and automatically-actuated means for controlling the rotation of said measuring roll.

8. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, and an a-uto-matically-actuated' locking and releasing mechanism associated with said measuring roll.

9. A towelcabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, and automatic means for releasing said arresting means after the lapse of an intervalof time.

10. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll afterthe withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, means for releasing said arresting means, and means for controlling the actuation of said releasing means.

11. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel sup-ply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, means for releasing sa'id arresting means, and means governed by the rotation of said measuring roll for controlling the actuation of said releasing means.

agaaeea uring roll after the withdrawal of a pre' determined length of toweling, a timing device, means controlled by the measuring roll for setting said timing device, and means actuated by said timing device for releasing said arresting means after the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

14. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, a timing device, means for coupling said measuring roll with said timing devlce during the withdrawal of a length of toweling, and means controlled by said timing device for releasing said arresting means.

15. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, a timing device, and cooperating coupling members connected to said measuring roll and said timing device for setting the latter during the withdrawal of a length of toweling, said members being arranged to be uncoupled during the rotation of the measuring roll, that coupling member connected to said timing device being arranged to release said arresting means.

16. A towel cabinet. comprising a towel supply 01], a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, and a timing device having a releasable part operativelv connected with said measuring roll during the withdrawal of a length of toweling but disengaged therefrom at a predetermined point in the rotation of said roll, said part being actuated by said timing device after such disengagement and arranged to release said arresting means after the expiration of a predetermined period oftime.

17. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of to-weling, 'anda timing device including a spring-actuated member for releasing said arresting means after the expiration of a predetermined period of time.

18. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the towehng, meansfor arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, a timing device including a spring-actuated member for releasing said arresting means after the expiration of a predetermined period of time, and a part movable with said measuring roll during the withdrawal 01. a length of toweling and arranged to move said spring actuated member to its initial position.

nausea 19. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, means for arresting the measuring roll after the withdrawal of a predetermined length of toweling, a timing devi'ce including a spring-actuated member for releasing said arresting means after the BXPll'ELlZlOILuOf a predetermined period of time, and a stop for limiting the movement of said springactua'ted member upon the release of the arresting means.

20. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll actuated by the toweling, 'said measuring roll having a stop, a detent arranged in the path of movement of said Stop, and means for automatically withdrawing said detent.

21. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll having a windup memberrotatable therewith, arresting means for said measuring roll, and a timing device including a rotatable releasing member for said arresting means, said windup member being arranged to engage said releasing member to turn the same therewith, the axis of said releasing member being eccentric to the axis of the measuring drum to automatically disengage said members after a partial rotation thereof. 22. A towel cabinet, comprising a towel supply roll, a measuring roll having a wind- ALF RED H. MARTIN. 

